Home stones can be so different from one another – let us explain them all
In addition to using a large amount of wood in home decoration , stone is also widely used . Apart from its attractive unique texture , they are good at water resistance. Many of them can be used as countertops or walls in kitchens and bathrooms. Let’s take a look at what’s hot on the market recently and which type best suits your taste.
There is an inherent liking for natural options. Natural stones come in many types . In the past, the most widely used ones were granite and marble. One of the greatest advantages of natural stones is their durability – they are resistant to heat, scratches, and stains (depending on the type of stone, some are soft and more porous, making stains or "discoloration" more visible).
Engineered stone was always referred to a mixture of natural stone and resin, including solid-surfacing, quartz stone and more. The term "quartz stone" refers to the use of approximately 93% natural quartz——one of the hardest and most abundant materials on earth, combined with resins and pigments. The Mohs hardness of high-quality quartz stone reaches 7, which is several grades higher than solid-surfacing. "Solid-surfacing is a product that combines mineral powder with resin and pigments (some people also call it " artificial stone "). It contains more resin than quartz stone and can achieve almost seamless joints with high shape plasticity . Most engineered stones are virtually non-porous, which means they are more resistant to stains and splashes than porous natural stones. Both quartz stone and solid-surfacing e are not as heat-resistant as natural stone, and will crack after being used for a time . They are also softer, making it easier for knives or other sharp objects to scratch the stone. But their widespread use is due to the fact that they are the easiest type of home stone products to repair , can be worked on or repaired on site, and is considered the most cost-effective alternative to natural stones for kitchen countertops.
In order to satisfy people's love for the texture of natural stone, a large number of engineered stones with the appearance of natural stone have appeared on the market. Such as cultured marble, cultured granite, especially the cultured Carrara marble produced in the mainstream. The technological level of some factories has reached a point where it is almost indistinguishable from natural stone to the naked eye. But as far as the difference in processing and molding is concerned, since artificial stone contains resin, as long as it has rich shapes and curved surfaces, it proves that 99% a cultured one or is artificial.
In recent years, with the development of new technologies, new artificial stones such as sintered stone and inorganic travertine have become a trend. Sintered stone is a type of engineered stone that contains no resins or binders and uses less harmful silica during its manufacturing process. It is similar to pocelain tiles, but requires the use of harder raw materials and higher pressure and heat, which creates a metamorphic process that bonds the materials together, making them more scratch-resistant, very heat-resistant, and will not discolor if left for long periods of time under UV exposure. This makes sintered stone an excellent choice for outdoor materials. Inorganic travertine is the result of the action of inorganic substances such as cement and quartz sand under chemical conditions. It imitates the warm feeling of natural travertine, has excellent stability at high temperatures, is also anti-wear and corrosion-resistant, and is available in multiple colors, so it has a wide range of usage.
Appearance
-Natural Carrara marble with white background and gray veins is easy to match with furniture. At the past when the production was sufficient, the price was generally affordable. It is an elegant and classic representative of the marble stone.
-Fine dolomite marble, also known as dolomite, is softer than granite but is more durable than Carrara marble, making it an increasingly alternative to traditional Carrara marble.
-Onyx and soapstone are both gorgeous but soft. Although they are not recommended as countertop stones , they can be used as shower walls.
- Travertine as natural stone is hot these years with its rustic look, regular resealing maintenance is recommended to ensure you get long-term use without affecting the appearance .
-The granite styles on the market are older and there are fewer choices, causing them to eventually lose the favor of customers.
-Sintered stones offer diverse design options with NDD inkjet technology prints on the slate surface imitating the texture and pattern of natural stones and many other materials.
- Available in large-size materials such as cultured marble and sintered stones, in terms of design, their are suitable as TV background walls or large concierge counters in a hotel.
-Quartz stone and seamless stone have a long history of development, so there are many styles.
Heat resistance
-Quartz stone is more forgiving than solid surfacing and can withstand higher temperatures; however, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause the surface to discolor over time. So it’s best to use potholders and trivets on any type of countertop stone.
-New inorganic engeineered stones do not contain resin and can be flame-retardant, such as inorganic travertine, inorganic terrazzo, inorganic quartz stone, etc.
Durability
- Granite can withstand high-strength impact, so it is almost unaffected by daily household use . However, when used as a countertop stone, it requires a cabinet with good load-bearing capacity to support it.
-Inorganic stones have better resistance to physical wear and resistance to most chemical substances than traditional engineered stones. They can also be polished and refurbished repeatedly.
-Although sintered stones are very durable, they have low elasticity and their slabs are thin (it is recommended that the thickness of the countertop stone should not be less than 12mm ) , so it is easy to break when bent. After when a piece of slab shattered by impact , it cannot be repaired on-site with current technology and needs to be completely replaced.
-Solid surfacing is the softest type of engineered stones. Still, it can be easily sanded and polished again.
Hygiene
-Both solid surfacing and quartz countertops are non-porous and resist moisture stains, bacteria and fungal growth. However, the quality on the market varies , especially for solid surfacing . After the cracks in the stone absorb water or color, due to the high density of the glue content, the water vapor is difficult to escape from the stone bottom, causing serious "color corrosion" on the surface and breeding of bacteria inside.
-There is adhesive between each sintered stones slab. If the seam gets wet frequently and is not dried in time, it will look dirty . Therefore, a sintered stone washbasin that is not made in one piece can become a disaster in the bathroom.
-Natural stone requires regular sealing maintenance to prevent stains and contaminants from penetrating and damaging the material.